Sunday, July 19, 2009

So last night was it! The long awaited first Stake Dance for Afton. Afton turned 14 a few days ago, but as long as 139 days ago she started marking off days on the calendar of when she would be able to "legally" attend a dance. I'm proud of her for keeping good standards and being the kind of girl that follows her parents and the church leader's advice. The dance was a casual dance in Saratoga. She danced with 3 people, Aaron Hill, Robert Henderson and someone she didn't know. The report is that she had a great time! She says the reason it was so great is because, "dancing is fun". Good call on that!

Sunday, July 12, 2009

My kids and I have just recently returned from a trip to the Boise area from The Christensen Reunion. My mom is a Christensen and has 8 siblings (2 sisters 6 brothers) There are 56 grand children and 111 great grandchildren (with 6 on the way) It is always a GREAT time. I try to make it a priority to get there every time it's held because the experience is like no other. This family is incredible. So accepting, so funny, so dang enjoyable to be around. Being a city dweller it shoves me into a whole new realm and the relaxed work hard/play hard attitude is contagious. As a kid I always enjoyed our trips there each summer. Now that I have my own family, I want them to experience the same thing. I even think that part of Brad's decision to marry me was based upon visiting the Christensen farms. And truthfully they probably like him more than they like me. But this is just the way it is with them, everyone feels important, everyone is accepted and everyone makes an effort (though it doesn't seem like effort) to know and like everyone else. I am truly blessed to be a part of this exceptional family.

Now, before I go on, I need to explain to any non-Christensen readers, a long running tradition at these reunions is poetry. I'm not talking Elizabeth Browning and Ralph Waldo Emmerson. It's more like Dr. Seuss meets Cowboy Poetry. Rules are broken, words mispronounced and many are family jokes are infused throughout. This year was no exception. Each of the siblings wrote a poem plus several of the cousins. I wanted to write a poem before I left, but it never came to the top of my priority list. So, as a tribute to the awesome time I had this year I have written my poem as part of my blog entry. I think it would be fun to insert pictures at particular parts of the poem, but since it may break up the already sketchy continuity I'll save the photos for the end and you'll just have to deal with it :)

What I've Come to Know -- by Stefani Meyer

Although I am happy, and content with my life,

being a city girl, a mother, a wife

There are several things that I've come to know

that I've learned by visiting ol' Idaho.

As if remembering all those names isn't enough

everyone has nicknames with lots extra stuff

You might be confused if you came a bit later

It's pretty f'r sure, you'll need a translator

There's

Lo & Co & Mo & Joe

& Jake & Rach & Johnny H.

Sarah's a Bug and Benny's a Chief

Aunt T. is Bob and if you've got a beef

Like Brady told me, you can't pick your own name

but even the weird ones'll bring family fame

There's Heifer & Hers & Jebba & Marty

& Mavis & Gabe, come on! Join the party.

Don't forget Fog, Fly or the Uncle that's Gary

And a name like Bates is just downright scary

When my kids left this time, Brady was "Tick"

We've got 2 years to practice making it stick.

Nicknames are fun, but only a start

of all the little details that make Christensen's smart

Cuz another thing I've come to know

is, the test of success is, how well you "Pest Control"

It's almost a given those bugs'll go flyin'

With Dennis and Barry and Aaron and Bryan

And before long... though we want them to stay,

others will join them, down in O.K.

And something more I've figured out

is you're never alone when family's about

How to converse, Uncle Grant is the master

And to make you laugh hard, nobody's faster

than Christensen's... to avoid a depression disaster

Their volleyball nets are always up and their guard is always down

Their mood is always accepting, so there's no need to wear a frown

Hannah and Melodie have their hands in the dirt

And a ride on Uncle Mike's boat doesn't hurt

I've learned your never too old and it's never too late

to jump on a wakeboard... or go irrigate

City folks, Canadians, Joe's facial hair...

they're always accepted, all while you are there

Something else that comes to mind

That only in Idaho, you will find

There's really nothing that's more of a treat

than a "Pink Lemon Sour" to beat the big heat

And there's something else I can't refuse

that's the family reunion TDQ's*

As a game it may give you pause

But they also come in handy for questioning potential in-laws.

Those Christensen boys taught me that driving a van

is the only way to show you're a man

Be it mini or full-size, or room for sixteen

Seeing them all in a line's a really cool scene.

Testimony, integrity and really good parents

are a whole lot more than just an appearance

It goes from the tops of their heads all the way to their core.

But wait, that's not all, there's a whole lot more.

Examples of missionary service, hard work, sacrifice

They'd give you the shirt of their backs, without thinking twice

Words can't express it -- especially in rhyme

But I'll be looking forward to next reunion time

Where all of my cousins & uncles & aunts

are living a legacy... and given a chance

would welcome you in, as part of the flock

they don't just pretend - they DO walk the walk

We can thank Grandma & Grandpa who started this show

And their legacy goes on in the things that I know.

*just for clarification, TDQ stands for "Tough Duckhunter Questions" a made up name for any type of trivia that may be asked during a family reunion.

All the patriotic kids on the 4th - just as a side note, someone told me yesterday that it is against "flag rules" to wear a flag on your shirt - I guess 95% of us were illegal

The babies were delicious (this is me and Andrew Hill, the 111 great grandchild)

Dad and Uncle Grant (deep in conversation about cameras, typical)

Brady was the master BBQ sauce maker. Really, I can't stop thinking about it even now!

My daughter, Afton... I'm so proud!

My cousin, Joe... I'm so proud!

Brady, Volleyball extrordinaire

Benny, Bryant and Brady Pyrotechnic Enthusiasts (they put on a great show for us)

Melodie and Darrell were the vigilant life guards, and it's a good thing too...

...with swimmers like this...

...and this...

... and this!

...awwww, and this.

The 3 Bradys (cutest boys at the reunion)

Shaved Ice (Thanks Garners) My favorite is Pink Lemon Sour!

We had a baby shower for Rachel and Kym (side note: Kym had her baby yesterday. Baby Jaden Elizabeth, congratulations)

We had a princess party for all the little girls. Hannah was their Queen! Gotta love the hair!

I asked Brenna to smile... this was her attempt! Laughing!

Afton helping Tinsley with her makeup

The pretty, pretty princess parade

(elbow, elbow, wrist, wrist, wipe a tear, blow a kiss)

Johnny H., burger flipper (all that schooling was good for something)

Brady's Bunch performed during the talent show (I think I'll go for a walk outside, the summer sun's callin' my name, I hear it now...)